Nooch Out: A Change of Heart Leads to Great Things

As my career as a CBA student winds down, there is a lot I have to be thankful for. Four years ago, I never thought I would have had all these experiences at CBA.

I always thought I would be playing football for Middletown South. My dad had coached the Eagles since 1996, and my sister ran track there. Next year, my little brother will be playing football for my father and uncle there. I own more South clothing than I do anything else. But, that’s not how things played out and I couldn’t be more happy about it. I had become a first generation CBA man. 

During my eighth grade year, I had a change of heart. A few of my club teammates were swimming for the legendary CBA swim team. Seeing that team name on a suit made you swim royalty. You were instantly feared by all swimmers around the Shore. This is when Peter Warshaw, then a CBA senior, started telling me about the Academy. I was instantly hooked, a place where I could become not just a great swimmer but a great man. This was the best change of heart I could ever have had.

For four years, I have been a student-athlete swimming for the Academy. My teammates and I won two state championships, which really should be three but Covid took away that meet. I was named captain of the team during my senior year and had an amazing career as an athlete. My freshman and sophomore year I tried out for baseball, but got cut. In my junior year, I threw javelin for CBA Track. But, I’m more than just an athlete. 

Throughout my time at CBA, a lot of things happened that I never thought would. One of these instances was when CBA swimmer Shane Brennan ’20 told me about the media class that Mr. Lutz was offering. Going into my sophomore year, I jumped into this class to see what it was about. This is how I got hooked into the CBA Digital Network. 

I have always had a love for sports, growing up with a football and baseball coach for a father. One thing I have always wanted to do is be on an ESPN show like “First Take” or be a play-by-play radio broadcaster like the great John Sterling for the New York Yankees. The CBADN has given me a taste of this experience, jumping on-air for a few basketball games as color commentator. I am grateful for those chances. 

In my junior year, I found a love of foreign languages and foreign cultures. I fell in love with the language Spanish and Latin cultures and especially Argentina and Spanish culture. I ended up receiving the Seal of Biliteracy. This is something that, had I gone to Middletown South, most likely would not have happened. 

My summer job as a lifeguard is thanks to the connections I had made here at the Academy. The incredible Mr. Ouano and Mr. Tomaino got me the greatest summer job that I never want to leave. 

CBA has done so much for me and my fellow seniors and we are forever thankful. 

As my final weeks here come to a close, I have something to say to the current and incoming students. Getting involved here is huge. Don’t knock something until you try it and don’t be afraid to join a new club. The second half of my senior year I joined the yearbook. I joined track my junior year and threw javelin, something I had never done before. CBA is truly a one of a kind institution, and your time here goes faster than you think. 

So yeah, I’m thankful I had a change of heart in eighth grade and chose CBA.

Nooch out.